Convertible furniture.



J. A. ARTON.

' CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. z2. 1915. Y i Patented 00u19, IIIIIIk 3 SHEETS-SHEET l L A. ARTON.

CONVER'HBLE FURNXTURE.

APPLICATloN FILED Nov. 22, 1915.

Patented om. 15, 191e.

a SHEETSAMU 2.

3. A. ARTON.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLlcmloN FILED Nov.22.1915.

Patented 06. 15, b.

JOHN A. ARTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 15, 191s.

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial No. 52,721.

To all whom 'it 'may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. Aaron, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the A-cally continuous movement of the parts. Theoretically the so-called one movement device is much to be desired, but all attempts heretofore to make such convertible furniture have resulted in complicated structures, of which the partswere likely to be disarranged and which were either heavy through the necessary use of counterweights or likely to become overbalanced with the possibility of injuring the operator.

In my invention hereinafter described, I am able to produce a simple, comparatively light, and easily operable device, which is so controlled and balanced as to be operated easily and without danger, in which the parts are extended by continuous movement under control of a special controldevice. My invention further provides means by which the bed fabric is tensioned from end to end as the bed members are extended, which tension is relievedas the bed is folded, thereby and by other features of construction making ample provision for bedding. V Further details of construction,` including a combined spring support and balancing device and a lock to be used in connection therewith, an improved pivoting device, and an improved foot rest and bedding holder will be more fully hereinafter described in the body of this'specifioation and set forth inl the claims.

The principles of my invention are illus- I' trated in the drawings, in Which-- "Figure 1 is an end view of my. improved sofa bed; one of the end pieces being removed to show thel internal construction;

Fig. 2'is a similar View, the movable parts being partially extended;

Fig. 3 shows the same after the parts are fully extended;

Fig. iis a plan View of one side of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan .of a portion of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged details partly in section of a foot board and bedding holder; v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail ofa locking device;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged details of the pivot or trunnion upon which the seat is turned.

Further describing my invention with reference to the drawings, in which like characters of reference denote like parts throughout: 1 and 2 are respectively the rear and front legs of a sofa bed frame, while 4 are the arms and 5 the end panels thereof. A

frame work, preferably of metal angles, may y be used to connect the rear posts, and consists of the vertical members 5 and the transverse members 6 and 7. Similar strips of metal 8 may be extended across Athe lower part of there-ar leg and form a support and attachment for the panels 5. A seat having the end piece 10, the front or inishingpiece 11, and the back piece 12 provided on its normally' upper side with upholstery 13 is swung at the ends and overturnable on trunnions 14, which are attached to the end pieces or panels of the frame. The said trunnionsV are so constructed that the seat and its attachments may be readily removed therefrom, but they are adapted to lock the ends of the frame together by means of the seat and so constructed that accidental 4removal is practically impossible. The particular mechanism of said pivoting device will be hereinafter vmore fully described.

A back having side pieces 15,-top 16 and upholstery 16 is pivotally. connected to the .normally rear edge of the seat by means which will also be more fully described later. A folding bed structure is adapted to be connected to the underside of the seat and tions of the-members 17 and are connected near their lower ends by tie pieces 21, to the normally rear portion of the seat, thereby providing means by which at 22 the vertical framing piece 23 of the back may he attached to the seat. .Drop arms 24 are attached tothe Vback-section members 19 at a short distance from the ypoint of their pgivotal attachment to the seat member L7.

raekets 25 are secured t`o the seat section members 17 at points adjacent to their inner` ends and have upwardly turned flanges to which at 26 are pivoted end members 27 of the head section. The outer ends of said members are attached to each other by the cross piece 28, and together form a head section for the completed frame. The inner ends 29 of the head section members are formed bycutting away the lateralflange of the angle iron of which the member is com posed, thereby leaving the vertical flange which will pass readilyby the outer face of the seat member 17 when turned as hereinafterl described. Pivots 30 attach the inner ends of said members 29 to one end of connecting -bars 31. The other end thereof is pivoted at 32 to the drop arms 24 on the back section members 19.

The outer or foot end of the bed frame is formed similarly to the head-section and consists of end members 33 connected by the transverse angle bar 34, thereby forming a foot-section.` The inner ends of the end members have the lateral flanges cut away for some distance, leaving the vertical flanges which form levers 36, which are pivoted at 37 to the bracket 38. At the eXtreme ends said levers are pivoted at 39 to one end of connecting bars 40, the other ends ofwhich are pivoted at 41 to the dropI arm 20. A pair of legs 42 connected toeach other by the cross rod 43 are formed ot' angle bars, one flange being cut away at the upper end, leaving a flat y pivoted at 37 to the bracket 38. It will be noted that the pivot 37 is the same as that by which, the member 33 is secured to the said bracket. Links 45 are pivotcd at one f end 46 to the upper end of the back framing bars 23 and at the other .end 47 to the said legs 42.

An improved foot rest and bedding holder, adapted to be used with the foot section shown, is illustratedin detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The foot section last described is made of angle bars having the transverse flange along the lower edge when extended. The foot board andzbeddingj holder may conf sist of the vertical members() and the transverse member 51, preferably formed in one piece, the extremities of which are turned at rigllt angles to form feet 52. (`lips 53 are formed of strips of metall bent midway of their ends to form loops and are pivoted at their ends to the vertical flanges of the head sections by rivets 44. The vertical portions oi the bedding holder are received above the nplnrned portions or feet within ilho, loops ol' the said clips 53 and are slidportion which is able therein. When-the bedding holder is turned from the position shown in F ig. 6

downwardly to hold 1the mattress or bed- 'horizontal flange of the foot section and securely locking the same in position upon the bedding until the operation is reversed,- whereby the foot rest can be turned to `its upright position shown. A device by which the initial step of opening and the final step of closing the bed are assisted, and by which the ed is rendered stable and supported in the open position is provided in connection with the head section. A lever is pivoted at one .end 61 to the framing strip 8. The other end 62 is attached to one end of a helical spring 63, th otherend vof which is connected "to the outer extremities of the head-section. The free end of lever GO- should swing in contact with a solid supweight. of the back and its attachments.v

must be quite strong, it is important .that a secure attachn'ient be provided for the back when in use as a sofa` in order that the same shall not be detached from the trame. For this purpose l use alock in which a foundation 7() which may be of a shortpiece of angle iron, is securely attached lo a foundation member lo of the' back. 0n the onlwardly projecting flange 7l. at 72, is pivoted a latch 73, having the notch 74. The said latch is forced outwardly into engagement with the framing piece (3. by means ot' a spring 75, and its extension is limited by the bearing of the latch at Tl upon the. lange.. 77. A throw-ofil piece 7H is pivoted at 7S) to the latch. llVhen the back is loosened by the operator, the fingers pressed upon the npper part of said lhrowotl` piece \\ill (ganse the latch to be disengaged. thereby freeing the bark and permitting the movement thcrea flat piece 80, from which projects a boss h1.` havingr the slot 82. provided with lugs 33. which are made from the material al thc lop ofthe slot and turned backwardly inlo the cup 84 in rear of the boss 3l. thimble 35 has the neck .QG lo be received within the slot 82. which forl'ns a bearing therefor, and shoulders 87 4below the neck which bear on the face of the boss adjacent to the slot, A bolt 88, having the head I89 passes through the said thimble and the end 4l() of the seat `frame, and is drawn up by means of a wing nut 90 which holdsthe several parts firmly in their relative positions.

As represented in Fig. 1`the seat and back of the structure are in their,normal relation as when used as a davenport. It will be seen that the seat members 17 and the back y members 19 are approximately at right anglesto leach other. The head members 27 are folded under the seat members and the spring 63 is undertension, the lever 60being turned forward to its extreme point of movement. The foot-section, together with the supporting legs and the bedding holder, are suspended in a substantially vertical position from the upper part of the back.

When it is desired to use the structure as a bed and to unfold the bed members, the

operator takes hold of the central portionv jnectingrods 31 'te the short arms of members 27 of the head-section. In like manner the pull of opening is communicated from the down arms 20 through the connecting bars 40 to the short arms 36 of the foot members 33. The relative relation of the parts is such that when fully extended theseat and back section members 17 and 19 will be 'in substantial alinement, While the head and foot sections will be in practical alinement with each other in a plane slightly above that ofthe back and seat members. The head-section will rest on the spring 63, which is supported by. the lever 60, which is-now held against further movement by its contact with theframing strip It is at a point slightly before the position shown in Fig. 2 is reached that the overweight is overcome and thc automatic forward action of the apparatus begins. It has been a defeet inthose beds which it has been sought to operate by a straight pull or single move- ,I ment thatthe overweight finally becomes too heavy, developing a tendency in the bed to pitch forward upon the operator. This is prevented by the construction shown,v in which the link d5f-connecting the legs 42 with the foot section 33 passes below the dead center formed at pivot 39 and the'legs 42 when folded rest upon the toot section.

The principal weight of Ithe legs below the pivot 47. as well the weight of the back attachedlto said legs by the links 45 checks the foot section in its tendency to rise under the action of the connecting bars 40. The operator then takes holdof` the cross piece 43, thereby revolving the legs 42 on their top pivots 37, and causing the end of the Hanges 42 to bear upon the vertical flange of the foot members '35, the weight-of the legs and attachments being thereby removed from the foot section and a positive leveraire being applied thereto to open the same.4 The legs are then rotated as shown in Figs. 2- and 5 into their final position, which will beidetermined by the stops 42. The full extension of' the bed structure is completed as the foot section is depressed, wherebyV the lhelicals 34', forming a part of the bed fabricand attached to the cross pieces 28 and 34 are tensioned andthe bed fabric is extended and stretched in position for use. The vertical arms of the bedding holder are drawn through the 'clips 53 until the feet 52 are in contact .with said clip, and the bedding holder is free to be turned to the position shown in Fig.v 6.

In reversing the processv and closing the bed to restore the structure to its primary use as a sofa, the bedding holder is first turned down and locked upon the bedding. The

foot section is raised, thereby releasing the tension on the helicals, and the legs are ro" tated until they and the foot section together are folded npon'the back'section- 19. The pivotal attachment 39 of the connecting bar 4() is thus placed .below the back section, and as the back section is folded upon the seat section the. thrust of the connecting bar holds the foot section firmly in relation to the back section. In like manner, as the seat begins to reverse', the head section 27, Whose end rests on the spring- 63, is rotated so that the pivot 26 passes its dead center and the thrust of the connecting bar 31, given by the drop 4arm 24, pushes the head section into the position shown in Fig. 2. The further rotationof the seat to its normal position stretches the spring'63, restoring it to the tensioned condition shownv in Fig. 1. the said spring at the latter.: portion of the movement of the device cushions the same as it assumes its final position, where it is locked by means of the device provided therefor. -It .will be further notedv that the lever 60 in movin'gforward until its action 1s stopped, provides an accommodation against too great tension of the spring 63. Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. Ina sofa bed having a frame, a seat reversible thereon. a bed sectionattached to the seat, a back pivotally connected to said It will be noted that, the ten-sion of seat andV having' a bed section connected thereto; thc combination therewith of a head section having its end members pivotally connected between their ends to the seat section, drop arms on the bed section connected with the back, and bars to connect the said drop arms to the inner ends of the said head section members.

2. In a sofa bed having' a frame, a seat reversible thereon, the seat. a back pivotally connected to said seat and having; a bed section attached to the back; the combination therewith of a foot section having; its end members pivotally connected between their ends to the back section. drop arms on the seat Section, and bars to connect the said drop arms to the inner ends of the said foot section members.

3. in a sofa bed h'aving a frame, a seat reversible thereon, a bed section attached to theseat, a back pivotally connected to saidA seat and havintr a bed section attached to the back; the combination connected between their ends to the seat section, 'drop arms on the back section, bars to` connect the said drop arms to theI inner ends of the head section members. a foot section having,` its end members pivotally connected midway of their ends to the back section, drop arms on the seat section. and bars to connect the last mentioned drop arms tothe inner en'ds' of the said foot section members.

4. 1n convertible furniture; two principala bed sections foldablis relatively to each-other,

two-auxiliary sections, one.r beine' foldable relatively to one principal section and the other being; .foldable relatively to the other principal section, and means connected to eaeh auxiliary sectionand operable by the non-adjacent principal section' to correspondingly move each auxiliary section relatively to its adjacent principal section.

5. In convertible furniture; a principal bed'section. an auxiliary bed section hinged thereto, a second principal bed section hinged to the first, a second auxiliary bed section hinged to the second principal bed section, and means `connected to each auxiliary section and operable by the non-adjacent principal sect-ion to correspondingly vmove each auxiliary sectionrelatively to itsl adjacent principal section.

(i. l-n a sofa bed having a frame, a, seat rea versible thereon anda bed section on thek seat; a head section pivoted to` thel said scat section. anda spring"connected at one end to the free, end of the head section and at the other oud to thebed lfraaie and adapted to be tensioned when the head 'section is folded and to act as a supportI `therefor when the said sertion is extended. V7. 'in a sol'a `bed havin; a l'ralne. a seat. reversible. thereon and a bed sei-tion on the a bed section attached to therewith of a headvvv section having its end members plvotally 1 and adapted act: Quader compression ysection and alternatively seat; a head section pivoted to the said seat section, and a spring connected at one end to the free rend of the head Section and at the other end to the bed frame and adapted to be tensioned when 4the head section is folded and to act under compression as a Support therefor whendhe head section is extended.

8. In convertible furniture, a bed section adapted to be alternatively folded and eX- tended, a relatively stationary spring attached at one end to said section and at the other end to saidy member and adapted to be compressed and support-the section on said member when extended and to be. tensioned when said section is folded.

9. ln convertible furniture, a bed section adapted to be alternatively folded and extended. a relatively stationary member, a .sn-ing attached at one epd to said section and at the otheritg said inember and adapted to be tensioned when the section is folded and to support. the same on the said member when it is extended.

l0. ln convertible fi-rrniture, a bed seetion adapted to'be alternatively folded and extended. a relatively stationary member, a

spring' attached at one end to said section and at. the other end to said member rand adapted to be compressed and Support the Asection on said member when said section is extended and to be. tensioned when said section is folded. said member being movable by the action of said spring to relieve the tensionthereof. v

ll. In;convertible furniture. a bed Seetion mounted on a stationary frame work to be alternatively folded and extended. a lever pivoted to the frame work, and a spring attaelred to the bed section and to said lever. said lever being adaptedito receive and rigidly support the spring when under compression when the bed section is extended and movable to relieve the tension thereof when folded.

l2. ln convertiblelifur'n'iture, the combination of a frame, a bediyseetion mounted thereon and movable relatively thereto, an lauxiliary section pivotallvi'attaehed to said bed Seetion and alternatively foldable er extendi- ,ble as the first named section is moved` and a spring having one end attached to the auxiliary section and they 'other end-w1th relatively less movementfconnected tothe frame, so that said spring will be tensionedl when the auxiliary section is folded and will lion of a frame.a bedfsection mounted-thereon andmovable'relaltivelythereto, an auX- iliary section pivotally attached to said bed ble. as the first named section is moved, a lever pivotall)v supported by the frame,

as a support therefor member, a

l'oldable or extendimeans for limiting the 4movement of the lever, and a spring having one end attached to the free end of the lever, soY that said spring will be tensioned when the auxiliary 'section is folded and will act under compression as a support therefor when thev auxiliary section is extended.

14. In convertible furniture; an overturnable member, a plurality of principal bed sections pivoted together' and vconnected to said overturnable member, a foot section pivoted to one of the principal sections and foldable thereon, and means connected to and operable by theother principal section to actuate the foot section, said foot section when folded acting under normal conditions to restrain the unfolding of the principal sections relatively to each other.

15. In convertible furniture; an overturnable member, a 'plurality of principal bed sections pivoted together and connected to said overturnablemember, a foot section pivoted to one of the principal seetions and-foldable thereon, means connected to and operable by the other principal section'to actuate the foot section, said foot section when folded acting under normal conditions to restrain the unfolding of the principal sections relatively to each other, and means attached to the foot section and foldable thereon to supplement the restraining action of the' foot section.

16. In convertible furniture; an overturnable member, a plurality of principal bed sections pivoted together and connected to said overturnable member, a foot section pivoted to one of the principal sections and foldable thereon, 'means connected to and operable by the other principal section to actuate the foot section, said foot section when folded acting under normal conditions to restrain the unfolding of the principal sections relatively to each other, and legs.

connected to the foot section and foldable thereon and adapted in the act of unfolding to engage the foot section and aid in unfolding the same from the adjacent principal section.

17. In convertible furniture; two principal sections pivoted to each other, an auxiliary section pivoted to one of said principal sections, means to connect the auxiliary section and the non-adjacent principal section so as to communicate movement of one to the other, and legs connected to the auxiliary section and foldable thereover to retard the opening movement thereof and adapted in the act of unfolding to engage said auxiliary section and aid in thc unfolding thereof.

18. In convertible furniture; two principal hed sections foldable relatively to cach other," an auxiliary section attached to one of the principal sections and foldable thereto, and means connected to the auxiliary section and operable by the non-adjacent principal section to fold the auxiliary section upon its adjacent principal section.

19. In convertible furniture; two principal sections foldable relatively to each other, an auxiliary section attached to one of the principal sections and pivoted s o as to be foldable relatively to said attached section, arms extended laterally from the non-adjacent principal section, and rods to connect said arms to the auxiliary section at a point removed from that of its pivotal attachment to its adjacent principal section.

20. In convertible furniture; two principal sections foldable relatively to each other, an auxiliary section having its end members pivotally connected at a point removed from the ends thereof to one of the principal sections, arms extended laterally from the nonadjacent principal section, and rods to connect said arms to the free ends of the end members of said auxiliary section.

21. In convertible furniture; two principal bed sections foldable relatively to each other, an auxiliary section attached to one of the principal sections and foldable relatively thereto, means connected to the auxiliary section and operable by the non-adjacent principal section to move the auxiliary section relatively to its adjacent principal section, and'means for elastically holding said auxiliary section `when folded relatively to its principal section and rigidly supporting the same when extended.

22. In convertible furniture; vtwo principal bed sections foldable relatively to each other, an auxiliary section attached to one of the principal sections and foldable relatively thereto, means connected to the auxiliary section and operable by the non-adjacent principal section to move the auxiliary section, and a device including a spring and a swinging member actuated 'by said auxiliary section adapted to elastically hold said section when folded relatively to its principal section and rigidly support the same when extended.

24. T.n convertible furniture; two brincipal bed sections foldable relatively to each other both of which are forwardly overturnrestrain the unfolding thereof.

' relatively thereto,

`foldable relatively thereto,

otlier and oveiturnable able and extendible, an auxiliary section pivoted to one of said principal sections and means Vattached to said auxiliary section" and operable Aby the principal section non-adjacent thereto to cause the auxiliary section to befolded or extended vrelatively to' its adj acent-principal section','and means attached to said vadjacent lsection for retarding they extending move- 10V nient of said "section at a predetermined point. i

25..'111 convertible furniture; two prini cipal be'd sections foldable relatively to eachother botli of which are forwardly overturnable and extendible,` an auxiliary section ivoted to one' of Asaid principal sections and foldable relatively theretoT means attached to said auxiliary section and operable by the principal section non-adjacent thereto to cause the auxiliary section to be folded or extended relatively to-its adjacent principal section, spring means for extendibly moving 'said sections, and means connected with said adjacent section for retardmg the extendingl movement of said sections atk a predeterother and forwardly overturnable and extendible, an auxiliary head' section pivoted to one of said principal sections and foldable means for holding said auxiliarysection elastically vin folded relation to said principal section, means attached tothenon-adjacent section and connected to the said head section for folding sections,

' tively. thereto,

ing or folding tlie same,

the non-adjacent principallegs connected to the or extending the saine, an auxiliary foot section pivoted Ato the other of said principal means connected to the non-adjacent principal section and attached to said foot section for extending or foldingthe same, and means connected to said last named principal section for restraining the forward movement thereof.

r28. In convertible furniture; twoK pii'no' cipal bed sections foldable relatively to each other and forwardly overturnable and exteiidible, a head section pivoted to vone of said principal sections and vfoldable relameans for holding said head section elastically in folded relation to said principal section, means attached to the nonadjacent principal section and connected to the said head section for folding or extending the saine, al foot section pivoted to the other of `said .principal sections, means connected to the non-adjacent principal section and attached to said foot section for extendand legs connected tothe foot section and foldable thereover.

. 29. In converti-ble tively stationary and movable parts, apivoting device or truniiion therefor comprising a foundation member secured vto the said stationary part and a bosshollow on its rear side and provided with a vertical slot having retaining lugs projecting at the upper part of the slot and projecting backvvardly tl1erefro1n,a tliiinble having a neck receive able ywithin the said slot to pivot thereon,

and a bolt having a head within the recess rin the rear of said boss and the body portion passed through said tliinible to engage the swinging or movable part.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of November, 1915, in the presence of two subscribing Wit- IIGSSQS.

Joint apiinfroe Witnesses:

- l C. Ki CHAMBEizLiii-s'. A. S. Piimmrs.

furniture having rela- 

